IN response to the letter headlined 'Who does
EPA protect?' (Irish Examiner, November 22), the Environmental Protection
Association would like to clarify the following:

The EPA is an independent public body established
in July 1993 under the Environmental Protection Agency Act, 1992.

We have a wide range of functions to protect
the environment. These include monitoring and reporting and a mandate
to license and control activities with the potential for serious pollution.

The EPA's office of environmental enforcement
is directly responsible for the active enforcement of over 1,000 EPA
licences which have been issued for waste, industrial and other activities.
Since its establishment 12 months ago, the office has conducted 2,000
inspections of licensed facilities; issued 550 notices of non-compliance;
issued two directions to local authorities; prosecuted 21 licensees
through the district courts and has a further 20 prosecutions pending.

The EPA will continue strictly to enforce environmental
legislation, adopting an uncompromising stance against those who act
outside the law, in order to protect and improve the natural environment
for present and future generations.